SoHo is a byword for sociable hospitality, whether it is the renowned entertainment quarter of London’s West End, the upscale New York shopping and socialising district—or Jakarta’s very own Social House.
The Ismaya Group’s concept blends restaurant, bar and Wine Post on the first floor of the Grand Indonesia mall in Jakarta’s central Thamrin district (there is also a Dubai outpost). It is hard to believe that this downtown Jakarta spot has already been going strong for close to two decades. It feels contemporary, buzzy, and warmly inviting.
One reason for that combination of longevity and ongoing popularity is Social House’s efforts to keep things fresh—including its food offering. July saw the launch of a brand-new “Simply Iconic” menu of six classic Western and Asian dishes, each elevated with a new twist.
The menu has been inspired by the Cluster Executive Chef Adam’s travels across Indonesia and other countries. Social House describes “Simply Iconic” as being “where comfort meets quality,” a nod to the familiarity of these well-known dishes and the high standard of ingredients and preparation being used for them.
The menu immediately sounds mouth-watering. The six dishes are Wagyu Hamburg Steak with foie gras as its add-on, Wagyu A5 Signature Bowl, lobster and beef lasagna, Wild-Caught Seabass whose portion is enough for three to four people, Cumi Bakar Jimbaran, and wagyu oxtail boat noodles.
Such a menu works perfectly for sharing, with sharing plates on my table when I arrived emphasising this. But the dishes are substantial in themselves. Each could stand alone as individual main courses for a couple or small group who do not plan to share.
On a recent visit, I sampled three of the six dishes. What immediately stood out about all of them was how elegant the presentation was, even for relatively simple dishes.
This was particularly noticeable in the case of the lobster and beef lasagna: a picture-perfect geometric wedge of pasta garnished colourfully with leaves, a small mound of grated aged parmesan cheese, and even a little roe—reflecting the dish’s combination of meat and seafood.
This sat in an inviting, richly coloured creamy lobster and slow-braised wagyu beef ragù sauce. This sauce’s deep colour befits a lobster bisque and braised beef combination. Its rich flavour was sensational: not overpowering yet deep, luscious, and lingering.
The Hamburg steak is described as “classic French style”. It was also served with a rich sauce—in this case, a three-peppercorn one. Biting into the occasional peppercorn added a piquant touch to the already tasty sauce.
The thick beef patty was topped with a tasty piece of foie gras, which was neither too small to be a gimmick nor too large to take away from the central focus of the dish. There was watercress atop the sauce, and as a side, the dish included a generous portion of house-cut potato fries, which were tasty, cooked to perfection, and piping hot on my visit.
My third dish—the A5 signature bowl—came in a ddukbaegi claypot that was itself piping hot, resting on a wooden trivet.
This dish was basically the East Asian classic of a bowl of hot rice mixed with other ingredients that goes by different names, including bibimbap in Korea. Here, though, the take was mostly Japanese.
The lightly seared cuts used Japanese A5 wagyu beef, atop furikake rice and wild mushrooms, arranged around a delicious, richly coloured onsen egg. The theme of elevation delivered by the wagyu continued with the use of truffle aioli oil. Meanwhile, the kimchi nodded to the dish’s Korean roots.
Across the board, this was superb-tasting and well-prepared food.
Prices ranged from Rp165,000 for the Wagyu Hamburg Steak (with an additional charge of Rp145,000 for the foie gras add-on) to Rp385,000++ for the Wagyu A5 Signature Bowl. The whole “Simply Iconic” menu sits within that price range. It is an addition to the existing Social House menu, so can be mixed and matched with it.
With my meal, I enjoyed a glass of red wine from the extensive range the restaurant carries. With a large central bar as well as the Wine Post offering both on-premise drinks and take-out wines by the bottle, there is no shortage of alcoholic drinks alongside a full non-alcoholic offering.
On Thursday evenings from 6 PM to 10 PM, there is a free-flow wine option available for Rp 299,000++, under a promotion suitably named “Unlimited Sips.”
All of this is within Social House’s sophisticated yet homely, large, and cosily arranged environment.
It offers different seating areas for every mood, from booths and French bistro-style tables to banquettes, a semi-private VIP room discreetly distanced from other diners, and an outside terrace with sofas and inviting chairs in which to look out on the city below.
The ambience is warm and comfortable, just like the reinterpreted classics on the new menu.
Social House is one of Ismaya Group’s lifestyle concepts, launched in 2008 in Grand Indonesia. For over almost two decades, Social House has evolved from a trendy hangout spot into a reliable casual dining restaurant that serves a comforting selection of modern Asian and Western cuisines.
Other than its delectable menu, Social House is also known as a Wine Post, serving curated activities for wine lovers.
Social House
- Grand Indonesia, East Mall, Floor 1, Jalan M.H. Thamrin No. 1, Menteng, Central Jakarta 10310
- Phone: +62 858 1771 0002
- Instagram: @social.house
- Website: Social House – Ismaya Group